Apparatus for preparing hot beverages, in particular soups

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns an apparatus for preparing hot beverages, in particular soups, characterized in that it comprises a frame ( 1 ) wherein are arranged means ( 2 ) for heating water from a drinking water distribution system or from a container and for transforming it into pressurized steam and means for directing said steam towards a chamber ( 3 ) which is traversed by a discharge duct ( 4 ) wherein flows the liquid beverage to be prepared, said beverage being transported to said duct ( 4 ) up to a container ( 5 ) by means ( 6 ) sequentially dispensing the beverage stored in a sanitary casing ( 61 ) arranged in a removably mounted receptacle ( 7 ) housed in the frame ( 1 ).

The present invention relates to an electrical apparatus for preparing a hot beverage.

The invention relates more particularly to an electrical apparatus for preparing hot liquid beverages that are prepackaged in an aseptic bag.

Electrical apparatus for preparing hot beverages, in particular coffee, by converting water to steam and bringing the steam and its condensate into contact with ingredients, which are often freeze-dried, thus allowing the beverage which has been metered and packaged beforehand to be made, are already known in the art.

Such electrical apparatus does not make it possible to prepare hot beverages from a liquid ingredient that is almost ready for use and that only requires heating up.

Thus, the present invention relates to a novel apparatus for preparing such beverages, in particular soups.

To this end, the subject of the present invention is an apparatus for preparing hot beverages, in particular soups, which comprises a frame inside which are arranged means for heating water coming from a drinking water mains or alternatively from a tank and for converting it into pressurized steam, and means for directing this steam to a chamber passed through by a discharge duct into which the liquid beverage to be prepared passes, said beverage being conveyed to this duct as far as a container by means for sequentially dispensing the beverage stored in an aseptic pack placed in an attached removable receptacle housed in the frame.

Advantageously, the receptacle for the beverage to be prepared consists of four side walls forming a parallelepiped, at least one of which is removable, and of an end wall that can also be removed and that has an opening for the passage of the means for connection between the pack and the sequential dispensing means.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the means for sequentially dispensing the beverage consist of a peristaltic pump composed of a frame to which is fastened a motor whose shaft rotationally drives a roller-holder bearing rollers in contact with deformable tubing that is connected at one of its ends to the aseptic bag containing the beverage and at its other end to the duct for discharging the beverage.

Preferably, the deformable tubing comprises a means for connection to mating means on the aseptic bag of threaded circular flange type, and this connection means comprises means for piercing said bag.

Also according to the invention, the heating chamber and the discharge duct are arranged on the same removable support called the “dispensing spout”.

In a preferred example of the invention, the removable dispensing spout is composed of a first pipe placed substantially vertically in the use position in the apparatus, connected perpendicularly to a second pipe, especially by welding, forming the connection to the pressurized steam outlet duct, and a third pipe mounted coaxially, particularly by means of rings, inside the first pipe forming the discharge duct.

Advantageously, the steam outlet is provided with a quick-coupling means with a closable orifice for making the join with the second pipe of the dispensing spout and avoiding any risk of steam escaping when said spout is disconnected.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a computer-type means for controlling the dispensing means and the water-heating means, said control means being actuated by at least one switch.

The abovementioned features of the invention and others will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus according to the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing how the apparatus according to the invention works.

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for preparing hot beverages according to the invention, for example an apparatus for making soups, which comprises a frame 1 inside which are arranged means 2 for heating water coming from a drinking water mains or alternatively from a tank and for converting it into pressurized steam, and means for directing this steam to a heating chamber 3 passed through by a discharge duct 4 into which the liquid beverage to be prepared passes, said beverage being conveyed to this duct as far as a container 5 by means 6 for sequentially dispensing the beverage stored in an aseptic pack 61 placed in an attached removable receptacle 7 housed in the frame 1.

It will be noted that the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 makes it possible to dispense two beverages simultaneously, being equipped with two aseptic packs 61.

The means 2 for producing the pressurized steam consist for example of a conventional water heater connected by a duct 8 to the water intake coming either from the drinking water mains or from a tank and between which is interposed a booster pump 9 for introducing water into a water heater 71.

A duct 10 arranged at the outlet from the water heater 71 conveys the pressurized steam to the chamber 3 for heating the beverage.

The means 6 for sequentially dispensing the beverage advantageously consist of a peristaltic pump. Conventionally, this peristaltic pump is composed of a frame 11 to which is fastened a motor whose shaft 0 rotationally drives a roller-holder 12 bearing at least three rollers 13 each arranged at an angle of 120 degrees with respect to the rotation shaft 0. These rollers 13 are in contact with deformable tubing 14 that is connected at one of its ends to the aseptic bag 61 containing the beverage and at its other end to the duct 4 for discharging the beverage. The space defined between two rollers 13 corresponds to a predetermined serving of beverage dispensed when the pump rotates.

It will be noted that to avoid any contact between the beverage and the operator's hand, the deformable tubing 14 comprises a means 15 for connection to the aseptic bag 61 of threaded circular flange type which is equipped with means (not shown) for piercing said bag 61.

When this tubing 14 is compressed between the rollers 13 and the frame 11 of the pump this causes, behind the compressed zone, a vacuum in the tubing 14 that immediately fills with a predetermined portion of beverage. The amount of liquid beverage trapped in the tubing between two rollers is then propelled to the outlet of the duct as far as the discharge duct and then, under gravity, as far as the container 5.

To ensure easy servicing of the apparatus, the heating chamber 3 and the discharge duct 4 are arranged on the same removable support called the “dispensing spout” in the remainder of the description and designated by the general reference 16.

This removable dispensing spout 16 is thus composed of a first pipe 17 placed substantially vertically in the use position in the apparatus, connected perpendicularly to a second pipe 18, especially by welding, forming the connection to the pressurized steam outlet duct 10, and a third pipe mounted coaxially, particularly by means of rings 21 and 22, inside the first pipe forming the discharge duct 4.

Note that the heating chamber 3 is formed between the third pipe or outlet duct 4 and the first pipe 17. To ensure sufficient heat exchange between the steam and the beverage so as to heat it up to a temperature of the order of 75° C., the third pipe 4 comprises, over its length, at least three orifices 19, preferably four, for the passage of some of the pressurized steam toward the beverage. These orifices 19 also make it possible, after the end of a dispensing cycle that will be described in detail below, to remove any particles that may have stuck to the inside of the discharge duct 4 during dispensing, especially of a soup.

To ensure the safety of an operator when servicing the apparatus, the steam outlet duct 10 is provided with a quick-coupling means 20 with a closable orifice for making the join with the second pipe 18 of the dispensing spout 16, thus avoiding any risk of steam escaping when said spout 16 is disconnected.

FIG. 1 shows a detail of an embodiment of a receptacle 7 for the beverage to be prepared, which is contained in an aseptic pack 61. This receptacle 7 advantageously consists of four side walls 23 forming a parallelepiped, at least one 24 of which is removable, and of an end wall 25 that can also be removed and that has an opening 26 for the passage of the means 15 for connection between the pack and the sequential dispensing means 6 mentioned above.

These removable walls 24 and 25 of the receptacle 7 advantageously make it possible to position the pack 61 properly, without the risk of it tearing.

As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the apparatus is also provided with a computer-type means 27 for controlling the dispensing means 6 and the water-heating means 2, said control means being actuated for example by means of switches 28 or another equivalent means.

The way in which the apparatus according to the invention works is already clear from the above description and will now be explained in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2.

When a switch 28, for example on the outer surface of the apparatus, is actuated, the control means 27 or computer causes the production of steam as far as the chamber 3 of the dispensing spout 16 and then, cumulatively with the production of the steam, causes the dispensing means 6, i.e. the peristaltic pump, to start up so as to sequentially convey a predetermined portion of the beverage to be prepared to the discharge duct 4, doing so up to the total volume of the desired quantity of beverage, for example 250 ml.

Note that the passage of a certain portion of beverage successively allows sufficient heat exchange between the beverage and the steam to bring the beverage to be prepared up to temperature.

As soon as the desired quantity of beverage has been dispensed, the steam is discharged into the heating chamber 3 for a predetermined time of the order of 1 second that advantageously makes it possible to remove the particles stuck to the discharge duct.

A new command can then be implemented on the apparatus by pressing on the switch 28.

Means (not shown) for commanding the rinsing of the apparatus are also arranged inside the apparatus so as to completely clean it, particularly when changing the aseptic pack 61. These rinsing means consist for example of a breaker that commands, only for a period of time of around 3 to 5 seconds, the operation only of the means 2 for producing steam as far as the dispensing spout 16.

It will be noted that the control means 27 can also manage the replacement of the aseptic pack 61, on the one hand according to when it reaches its best-before date, for example after 24 hours in the case of a soup, and on the other hand according to whether or not there is a sufficient amount of the desired beverage left.

To this end, a switch 31 linked to the computer or control means 27 is actuated when the receptacle 7 containing the beverage is put in place, starting the countdown of a clock.

According to a variant embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least two switches 28 determining two volumes of beverage to be prepared. It will be noted that the motor of the peristaltic pump will rotate to a greater or lesser extent, depending on which of these switches is pressed.

It is clear from reading the above description that the electrical apparatus for preparing ready-to-use hot beverages is relatively simple to produce and makes it possible to heat up, within a relatively short period of time of around 12 to 14 seconds, around 250 ml of beverage to a temperature of 75° C.

Furthermore, such an apparatus meets hygiene standards in that no contact is possible between the beverage and someone's hands and the apparatus cleans the dispensing spout after every beverage dispensed, said spout being moreover completely removable.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment, it encompasses all technical equivalents of the means described. 

1. An apparatus for preparing hot beverages, in particular soups, which comprises a frame (1) inside which are arranged means (2) for heating water coming from a drinking water mains or alternatively from a tank and for converting it into pressurized steam, and means for directing this steam to a chamber (3) passed through by a discharge duct (4) into which the liquid beverage to be prepared passes, said beverage being conveyed to this duct (4) as far as a container (5) by means (6) for sequentially dispensing the beverage stored in an aseptic pack (61) placed in an attached removable receptacle (7) housed in the frame (1).
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle (7) for the beverage to be prepared consists of four side walls (23) forming a parallelepiped, at least one (24) of which is removable, and of an end wall (25) that can also be removed and that has an opening (26) for the passage of the means (15) for connection between the pack (61) and the sequential dispensing means (6).
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the means (6) for sequentially dispensing the beverage consist of a peristaltic pump composed of a frame (11) to which is fastened a motor whose shaft (0) rotationally drives a roller-holder (12) bearing rollers (13) in contact with deformable tubing (14) that is connected at one of its ends to the aseptic bag (61) containing the beverage and at its other end to the duct (4) for discharging the beverage.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the deformable tubing (14) comprises a means (15) for connection to mating means on the aseptic bag (61) of threaded circular flange type and wherein this connection means (15) comprises means for piercing said bag.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating chamber (3) and the discharge duct (4) are arranged on the same removable support called the “dispensing spout” (16).
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the removable dispensing spout (16) is composed of a first pipe (17) placed substantially vertically in the use position in the apparatus, connected perpendicularly to a second pipe (18), especially by welding, forming the connection to the pressurized steam outlet duct (10), and a third pipe mounted coaxially, particularly by means of rings (21 and 22), inside the first pipe (17) forming the discharge duct (4).
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the steam outlet is provided with a quick-coupling means (20) with a closable orifice for making the join with the second pipe (18) of the dispensing spout (16) and avoiding any risk of steam escaping when said spout (16) is disconnected.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which comprises a computer-type means (27) for controlling the dispensing means (6) and the water-heating means (2), said control means being actuated by at least one switch (28) or another equivalent means. 